(Ancient and Modern Famous Clinical Patterns from the Golden Mirror (Er Ke Juan (Xia)): Book of Children’s Patterns (II)

Diffuse the Lungs, Alleviate Phlegm, Transform Stasis, and Free the Bowels

Dr. Qin Lian-Quan (1897-1976), page 18

Case 4:  Wang Mo, female, 10 years old.

Patient has had recurrent bouts of asthma over the last eight years.  In the last week her asthma has become more severe.  Symptoms include coughing and wheezing which are exacerbated by movement, and, at times, she is unable to lie flat.  There is copious white phlegm, her face is white, and her spirit is listless.  She has a dull expression in her eyes, a stuffy chest with hasty breathing, and she doesn’t care to eat.  Her urine and stool are normal.  Her tongue coat is white and the tongue body is pale and moist; the pulse is sunken and fine.  This pattern is one of constitutional deficiency of the Lung, Spleen and Kidney resulting in deficiency of the Right Qi due to long term illness.  First then, it is essential to strengthen the Spleen and boost the Kidney.  Secondly, depurate the Lung and transform the phlegm.

Prescription:

Shan Yu Rou 10g, Shu Di 6g, Hu Tao 10g, Huang Qi 10g, Zhi Ma Huang 6g, Xing Ren 6g, Su Zi 6g, Fa Ban Xia 6, Wu Wei Zi 6g, Fu Ling 6g, Chen Pi 3g, Gan Cao 2g.

Additionally:  Zi He Che (powder) 20g, mei fu 2g

Take everyday 2 times per day.

Patient took five packs and the asthma was clearly alleviated.  Her essence spirit (mind) was greatly improved, and her food intake increased.  She continued to take the formula every other day for ten more days in order to secure the treatment effect.

This patient is a child who is constitutionally weak and who has suffered a long course of illnesses.  As a result, her Right Qi has been defeated and dispersed followed by internal damage to her Essential Qi.  Although wheezing is an acute illness, in this instance, it presents as a true vacuity and false repletion pattern leading to impairment of the normal Lung and Kidney ability.  Therefore, it is necessary to bank up, conserve, and boost her lower jiao to help the Lung diffuse and transform phlegm, thus ensuring that the upper jiao is properly coursed and drained.  The phlegm-drool is spontaneously reduced and the wheezing is spontaneously calmed.  The practitioner should not be deluded by symptoms of acute wheezing and phlegm and use herbs that will work only on this aspect or the disease will progress and the Zheng Qi  will be further diminished and other negative transformations will ensue.